Head, Department of Environment in the council, Emmanuel Orhiubra, told Ejinyere that he granted a permit to the middle man for N40,000 based on findings by his supervisory councillor, Lucky Oformunyor, and laboratoty test results submitted by the middle man.

Oformunyor claimed the first test report showed the substance was not radioactive, but required further treatment before it could be disposed.

“When they came back, they said if it is mixed with sand, then it can be disposed. So based on that I gave them permit of N40,000 in line with the applied rates”, Oformunyor told Ejinyere.

Oformunyor, however, failed to name the company and the source of the sludge.

Following the briefing, the council chief said: “We are letting the world know that Okpe council has opened investigation into what is said to be going on at Egbeleku. A fact finding team has gone and verified that something is going on there, a substance is being brought in by a certain company and person and buried in the community.

“We have been made known that the community is aware. We cannot say whether it is harmful or not, but as a council, we cannot rely on the test result brought by the community or the person disposing the product there. What has been done also rubs off on the council’s HOD and supervisory councillor on Environment because the council is seen as being the one which granted licence for doing such a business in the community. I was not aware until I started hearing calls from the press and other stakeholders.

“We need to see one on one with the company involved and whoever is behind the business. He needs to tell us what kind of product it is and show us where he is taking it from. We need to get sample from source and do our test. We cannot be talking to a faceless company. If what they are doing is genuine and right, they must have a face.”